Wafaa Shurafa

An Israeli strike in Gaza killed Palestinian aid official Mohamed al-Wahidi and three others, including two children, shortly before a widely anticipated Egypt–Argentina World Cup match. Israel said it was targeting a Hamas militant and that al-Wahidi was not the intended target, while local medical officials disputed that any of the victims were militants. Al-Wahidi worked with the Egyptian Committee, which has been providing humanitarian assistance and organising public World Cup screenings. The incident occurred amid continued Israeli strikes despite an October truce, with over 1,000 Palestinians killed during that period. The conflict’s broader toll includes more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry and about 1,200 Israelis killed during the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack.

Hamas has dissolved its government in Gaza and plans to transfer administrative authority to a UN‑backed technocratic committee established under a US‑brokered ceasefire. The group has not indicated any intention to disarm, prompting skepticism from Israeli officials who argue the move avoids core ceasefire obligations. The committee, chaired by Ali Shaath and based in Cairo, is tasked with restoring essential services and overseeing governance under UN and Board of Peace supervision, stressing the need for a unified legal and security framework. Nine months after the ceasefire agreement, negotiations remain stalled over Hamas’s disarmament and reconstruction plans. Israeli strikes continue at a reduced pace, resulting in ongoing casualties, while militants maintain intermittent attacks on Israeli forces.